Modular product display shelf system

ABSTRACT

A modular product display shelf system includes at least one end support frame comprising two conduits pivotally connected to each other. Each of the two conduits has support conduits affixed at longitudinal ends thereof in a direction transverse to the conduits. At least one vertical support column is disposed in each support conduit. At least one shelf is affixed at a selected longitudinal position to each of the vertical support columns.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/020,018filed on Jul. 2, 2014.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure is related to the field of retail product display shelfsystems. More specifically, the disclosure relates to modular shelfsystems the components for which may be closed to small sizes forshipment.

Modular shelf systems known in the art include rectangular box framesthat may be used on both lower and upper ends of upright columns toassemble one or more shelf racks. The shelf racks may be individuallyassembled or may be interconnected to form a larger, unitized shelfsystem. Wire racks or similar product support shelves may be disposedwithin the upright columns at selected positions along the verticalsupport columns.

The rectangular box frames occupy substantial space such thattransportation of such modular shelf systems for later assembly at theplace of use may be relatively costly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 show respective closed position (FIG. 1) and open position(FIGS. 2 and 3) views of an end support frame for a shelf systemaccording to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a locking mechanism that may be used in someembodiments to hold the end support frame in the open or closedposition.

FIGS. 6-10 show an assembly sequence of a shelf support frame usingmultiple end support frames.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the locking mechanism of FIGS. 4 and 5 in moredetail.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show oblique views of the shelf support frame fullyassembled as in FIG. 10 with product shelves supported within verticalsupport columns. FIG. 13 shows the bare shelf system. FIG. 14 shows theshelf system with product containers disposed thereon.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show an individual product shelf support having casterson a bottom thereof to enable movement.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the product shelves of FIGS. 15 and 16 with productcontainers thereon.

FIGS. 19-21 show an example embodiment of an upper end frame usable insome embodiments of a display shelf support frame.

FIG. 22 shows assembly of the upper end frame of FIGS. 19-21 to verticalsupport columns on a display shelf support frame.

FIG. 23 shows a detailed view of connection between a vertical supportcolumn and a support conduit on an upper end frame.

FIG. 24 shows a detailed view of a pivot used in the example end supportframe of FIGS. 19-21.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show perspective views of an assembled shelf supportframe using the example embodiment of upper end frame of FIGS. 19-21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment, for a modular product shelf systemaccording to the present disclosure, of an end support frame 10 in aclosed position for shipping. The end support frame 10 may be made fromtwo rods 12 each of a selected length connected to each otherapproximately at the longitudinal centers thereof by a lockable pivot(explained further below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5). The rods 12may be equal length or of unequal length depending on the desired shapeof an assembled shelf support and/or system thereof. The rods 12 may betubular, angled, rectangular, square or any other suitable shaperesistant to bending. The rods 12 may be hollow cross-section to reduceweight while still having substantial resistance to bending.

As shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal ends of the rods 12 may includesupport conduits 14 affixed thereto. The support conduits 14 may beaffixed to the longitudinal ends of the rods 12 substantiallyperpendicularly to the longitudinal ends of the rods 12 and may beoriented to be vertical when the rods 12 are horizontal. The supportconduits 14 may be hollow cross section and may be any selected shapecorresponding to an exterior shape of vertical support columns to beinserted therein. Example shapes for the support conduits may include,without limitation, round cylindrical, rectangular cross section andsquare cross section. The vertical support columns will be explainedfurther with reference to FIGS. 7 through 10.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example pivot and locking mechanism 16 that may beused in some embodiments. The pivot and locking mechanism 16 enablesrelative rotation of the rods (12 in FIGS. 1-3) with respect to eachother and may be, for example, a type which expands in external diameterwhen a handle is moved from a released position to a locked position asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. When the pivot and lockingmechanism 16 is locked, the rods (12 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) may berotationally fixed with respect to each other. Locking may be used whenthe rods (as shown at 12 in FIG. 1) are in the closed position fortransportation so that the rods will not open during transport. Lockingmay also be used when the rods 12 are in the fully open position (seeFIGS. 2 and 3) so that the rods 12 remain in the correct position forassembly of a shelf unit or a shelf system. Although the illustratedembodiment has the rods 12 disposed substantially orthogonal to eachother when the end frame is in the open position, in other embodiments,the relative rotational orientation of the rods 12 may be other thanorthogonal.

FIGS. 6 through 10 show an assembly sequence for one embodiment of ashelf system according to the present disclosure. In FIG. 6, two endsupport frames 10 may be disposed at predetermined positions on a flooror other supporting surface. The end support frames 10 are locked in theopen position. In FIG. 7, vertical support columns 18 may be insertedinto each of the support conduits (14 in FIGS. 2 and 3) in each of theend support frames 10. The foregoing forms two end support frame andvertical support column assemblies (“assemblies”).

In FIG. 8, two additional end support frames 10 may connect the two endframe and vertical support column assemblies as shown in FIG. 7 byaffixing the additional end support frames 10 to the upper ends of thevertical support columns in offsetting ones of each of the assemblies.

As shown in FIG. 9, the remaining unused support conduits in theoutermost end support frame 10 on top may include vertical supportcolumns 18 inserted therein and the bottom of such columns may beconnected by an end conduit 23 having features to connect to the supportconduits 14 and to connect the features to each other at a same distanceas a distance between the support conduits at the ends of each of thetwo rods 12 in a single end support frame 10.

FIG. 10 shows a similar end conduit 23 assembled to vertical supportcolumns 18 for the opposite, bottom located end support frame 10. Theassembly in FIG. 10 forms the supporting framework (“shelf supportframe”) for an embodiment of a shelf system according to the disclosure.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that additional endsupport frame(s) 10 may substitute either or both of the end conduits 23so that the shelf system can be extended beyond the exampleconfiguration shown in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show the locking mechanism 16 of FIGS. 4 and 5 in moredetail.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show oblique views of the shelf support frame fullyassembled as in FIG. 10 with product shelves supported 22 within thevertical support columns 18. The product shelves 22 may be wire racks,or any other form of product support shelf suitable for the type ofproduct to be stored in the display system. The product shelves 22 maybe supported in selected positions along the vertical support columns 18using any known device for holding an element along a vertical support,including, without limitation, pins inserted into the vertical supportcolumns, clamps affixed to the vertical support columns and detents inthe vertical support columns cooperatively engaged with retractable,spring loaded pins in the corners of each shelf 22. FIG. 13 shows thebare shelf system. FIG. 14 shows the shelf system with productcontainers disposed thereon.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show oblique an individual product shelf support havingcasters 24 on a bottom thereof to enable movement. The casters 24 mayinclude features to enable them to engage the support conduits (14 inFIG. 1) on the bottom of the product support shelf. In a multiple unitsystem as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the casters 24 may engage both thesupport conduits and the vertical support columns at the bottom endsthereof to make the entire display system movable on the casters 24. Theembodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16 may use only one end support frame 10 (asexplained with reference to FIGS. 1-5) on an upper end of the verticalsupport columns 18. The embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16 may also use anend support frame 10 as explained with reference to FIGS. 1-5 on thebottom end of the support columns 18. The shelves 22 may be connected tothe vertical support columns 18 to maintain their relative positioningalong the length thereof.

Thus, a modular shelf support system may include individual productshelf supports as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, or may include a pluralityof interconnected product shelf supports as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show the product shelves of FIGS. 15 and 16 with productcontainers thereon.

FIGS. 19-21 show various views of an example embodiment of an upper endframe that may be used in some embodiments. FIG. 19 shows the upper endframe 30 in a closed position such as may be used for transportation.FIG. 20 shows the upper end frame 30 partially opened. The upper endframe 30 may comprise a first side rod 32, an end rod 34 and a secondside rod 36. One end of each side rod 32, 36 may be pivotally coupled tothe end rod 34 using a pivot or swivel 42 at each respective connection.The side rods 32, 36 and the end rod may be any suitable cross sectionalshape, including without limitation rectangular, square and round.

FIG. 21 shows the upper end frame 30 fully opened. The free longitudinalends of each of the side rods 32, 36 may include a support conduit 38.Similarly, the pivots (42 in FIG. 20) may each include a respectivesupport conduit 38. The support conduits 38 may be generallyperpendicular to the length of the rods 32, 34, 36 and may be shaped toengage the upper ends of the support columns (e.g., 18 in FIG. 7).

FIG. 22 shows an example display shelf support using an upper end frameas described with reference to FIGS. 19-21. The display shelf supportmay include an end frame 10 as described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 andsupport columns 18 inserted into the support conduits on the end frame10. An upper end frame 30 as explained with reference to FIGS. 19-21 maybe opened and then inserted into or onto (depending on the relativesizes of the support conduits and support columns) the upper ends of thesupport columns 18 to form a complete display shelf support. In theexample embodiment of FIG. 22, the lower end frame may have casters 24inserted into the support conduits. In other embodiments the casters maybe omitted.

FIG. 23 shows a connection between a support column 18 and the supportconduit 38 on the upper end frame. After assembly of the support conduit38 to the support column 18, the foregoing two components may be heldtogether with a locking pin 40 or any similar device.

FIG. 24 shows a detailed view of the pivot 42 that may be used to couplethe side rod (either 32 or 36 in FIG. 20, wherein rod 32 is shown inFIG. 24) to the end rod 34. FIG. 24 also shows a detailed view of thesupport conduit 38 coupled to the longitudinal end of the side rod 32.FIG. 24 also shows the support conduit 38 assembled to the upper end ofone of the support columns 18.

FIGS. 25 and 26 show two opposed oblique views of an assembled displayshelf using an upper end frame as explained with reference to FIGS.19-21.

A modular product display shelf system as disclosed herein may enablethe user to assemble a number of different configurations of productdisplay shelf while minimizing the space needed to transport componentsof such a shelf system.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised whichdo not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by theattached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular product display shelf system,comprising: at least one end support frame comprising two rods pivotallyconnected to each other, each of the two rods having support conduitsaffixed at longitudinal ends thereof in a direction transverse to alongitudinal dimension of the rods; at least one vertical support columndisposed in each support conduit; and at least one shelf affixed at aselected longitudinal position along and to each of the vertical supportcolumns.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the two rods are pivotallyconnected to each other at respective longitudinal centers thereof. 3.The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one end support frame pivotis lockable to retain the at least two rods in an open position for usewith the vertical support columns and the at least one shelf, and in aclosed position for transportation.
 4. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising casters affixed to a lower end of the vertical supportcolumns.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the casters are affixed to alower end of each of the support conduits.
 6. The system of claim 1further comprising an end support frame coupled to an upper longitudinalend of the at least one vertical support column.
 7. The system of claim6 wherein the end support frame comprises two side rods each pivotallycoupled at one longitudinal end thereof to an end rod.
 8. The system ofclaim 7 wherein the side rods further comprise support conduits at theirrespective longitudinal ends, the support conduits on each side rodshaped to engage an upper end of a respective support column.
 9. Thesystem of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of end support frameseach affixed alternatingly to an upper end and a lower end of verticalsupport columns, and an end conduit affixed between transverse endmostones of the vertical support columns.
 10. The system of claim 1 whereina cross section of the rods is at least one of tubular, angled,rectangular and square.
 11. The system of claim 1 wherein the rods arethe same length.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the rods are unequallength.
 13. A method for assembling a modular product support shelf,comprising: opening, from a closed position, at least a first endsupport frame comprising two pivotally connected rods each havingsupport conduits at longitudinal ends thereof by rotating the rods withrespect to each other; inserting a support column in each of the supportconduits; and attaching to upper ends of the support columns at leastone of (i) a second end support frame after opening thereof from aclosed position, the second end frame having a structure substantiallythe same as a structure of the at least a first end frame and (ii) anend conduit.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the opening comprisesreleasing a locking mechanism prior to rotating the rods and locking thelocking mechanism when the rods are in an open position.
 15. The methodof claim 14 wherein the rods are substantially orthogonal to each otherwhen in the open position.
 16. The method of claim 13 further comprisingaffixing at least one product shelf to the support columns at a selectedlongitudinal position along the support columns.
 17. The method of claim13 further comprising opening at least a third end frame from a closedposition, the third end frame having a structure substantially the sameas the first end frame, inserting support columns into support conduitsat longitudinal ends of rods on the third support frame and insertingupper ends two of the support columns into support conduits onlongitudinal ends of rods on the second support frame.
 18. The method ofclaim 13 further comprising opening an end frame comprising two siderods each pivotally coupled at one longitudinal end thereof to an endrod and coupling the end frame to the support columns.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 further comprising inserting a locking pin in each connectionbetween the end frame and a respective support column, wherein the siderods further comprise support conduits at their respective longitudinalends, the support conduits on each side rod shaped to engage an upperend of a respective support column.